Office for National Statistics
Quality Specialist
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The locations for this role are Newport, Titchfield (Fareham) & Darlington.
This role is aligned to ONS hybrid working principles, which are based on attending the office with purpose. The post holder will be expected to contribute to the organisation’s overall 40% office attendance, in line with business and role requirements.
The organisation will honour existing agreed attendance flexibilities for internal candidates (including homeworking contracts, workplace adjustments, and greater flexibilities), in line with ONS hybrid working principles and subject to role requirements and business need.
External candidates will be expected to contribute to the 40% office attendance as needed to perform their duties. Occasional travel to other ONS sites is also likely.
The induction process for the role will be conducted in person.
Job Summary
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is the UK’s largest producer of official statistics, covering a range of key economic, social and demographic topics. These include measuring changes in the UK economy, estimating the size, geographic distribution, and characteristics of the population, and providing indicators of price inflation, employment, earnings, crime, and migration.
These posts sit in multi-disciplinary teams, or Hubs, working on the quality of the data we use, quality assurance of the work we do, and managing risks to quality within the ONS Quality Framework.
These teams are part of the Quality and Improvement Division in the Methodology and Quality Directorate. The Division strives towards data and analysis in the ONS being aligned with the vision of the UK Statistics Authority, and of the National Data Strategy. Also, we ensure that quality standards and frameworks, such as the Government Data Quality Framework and the Code of Practice for Statistics, are known and followed. We are responsible for managing the tools ONS uses to manage risks to statistical quality, and for reporting on those risks. We apply innovative approaches to promote and embed good practice in quality across the ONS, including a focus on communicating the quality of statistics, analysis and data. We provide a forward-looking, efficient, professional, and accessible service.
Job Description
To develop, establish and maintain our approaches to the quality of data, statistics and analysis across ONS and wider, while ensuring that knowledge and expertise are shared effectively.
You will be delivering expertise in the quality of data, statistics and analysis as part of delivering the ONS mission, strategic outcomes and objectives, in line with the Code of Practice for Statistics and Data Quality Management Policy.
The postholder for this role will work collaboratively with others in the division and in ONS to ensure that ONS has the right tools, capabilities, and guidance so that quality is managed in line with the organisation’s mission, strategic outcomes and objectives.
The role provides scope for a variety of work, including data analysis throughout the data lifecycle, managing projects, influencing and collaborating with colleagues at all levels and gaining a big picture view of the work in ONS.
In this role you will have opportunities for a variety of work such as:
- Collect, analyse and report on a variety of data to build a picture of ONS progress under our Quality Management Framework and risk exposure
- Develop, deliver and promote new products and services, for example guidance, dashboards, wiki pages, to support quality improvement.
- Build cross-ONS capability through the design, development and delivery of training and other information sharing mechanisms
- Undertake analysis and support errors management and assurance reviews of statistical outputs to support compliance with relevant standards.
- Contribute and support quality governance, including the ONS Design Authority, Quality Delivery Group and the Data Governance Committee
- Manage and develop quality knowledge-sharing networks.
- Provide organisational capability for monitoring and improving quality processes.
- Collect and analyse information to support senior leaders on quality management in ONS.
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Key Responsibilities of the role include;
- Support setting direction in ONS on quality management of data, statistics and analysis, aligning to the strategic priorities of the UK Statistics Authority, the National Statistician, and the Quality Delivery Group.
- Manage the monitoring and delivery of ONS Quality Management Tools and Policies, such as the Quality Improvement Plans or Data Quality Management Policy, leading on the relationship with output areas.
- Engage with ONS collection and statistical output areas to ensure they receive the support they need and that best practice is consistently implemented.
- Support the reporting, assessing and understanding of quality management across ONS, including collecting and analysing relevant indicators for Quality
- Building quality capability and culture across ONS through the provision of products and services
- Expected to lead on a project such as developing new guidance or collecting data on quality initiatives. Includes independently managing and reporting on all stages of the project, managing others’ input into the work and seeking advice as appropriate.
- Independently representing your Hub on a cross-ONS project or piece of consultancy, referring back for advice, quality assurance and confirmation where a decision has wider potential consequences
Person Specification
Essential
- Strong experience in data management, data analysis, or data engineering that can be applied to assessing and improving data quality.
- Strong communication and influencing skills. This includes the ability to present on technical subjects to a range of audiences, influence stakeholders, and clearly brief more senior management.
- Experience of working with different stakeholders from different parts of the organisation and with different roles, building positive collaborative working relationships.
- Actively seeks opportunities to improve services and ways of working, demonstrating innovation and adaptability, and delivering positive, measurable improvements to performance and outcomes.
- Experience of working with government data, and/or with official statistics in accordance with the Code of Practice for Statistics.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Working Together
- Managing a Quality Service
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Experience of working with government data, and/or with official statistics in accordance with the Code of Practice for Statistics.
- Understanding the importance of managing and reporting on the quality of data and analysis.
Alongside your salary of £34,587, Office for National Statistics contributes £10,019 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).
The Office for National Statistics is part of the Civil Service, and as such we share a number of key benefits with other departments, whilst also having our own unique offerings to support our valued colleagues across the organisation.
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Whether you are hearing about us for the first time or already know a bit about our organisation, we hope that our careers site will give you a great insight into the benefits and facilities available to our colleagues, and our fantastic working culture.
Inclusion & Accessibility
At ONS we are always looking to attract the very best people from the widest possible talent pool, and we are proud to be an inclusive, equal opportunities employer. As a Disability Confident Leader we’re committed to ensuring that all candidates are treated fairly throughout the recruitment process.
As part of our application process, you will be prompted to provide details of any reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process that you need. If you would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments before applying, please contact the recruitment team in the first instance.
If you would like an accessible version of any of the attachments or recruitment documents below or linked to in this advert, please contact the recruitment team who will be happy to assist.
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
Security Clearance
For ONS the requirement for SC clearance is to have been present in the UK for 3 consecutive years immediately prior to applying and the department will consider eligibility by exception on a case-by-case basis. You will be asked to provide information regarding your UK residency during your application, and failure to provide this will result in your application being rejected.
At the point of SC application, you will need to provide or give access to the following evidence:
- Departmental or company records (personnel files, staff reports, sick leave reports and security records)
- UK criminal records covering both spent and unspent criminal records
- Your credit and financial history with a credit reference agency
- Security Services records
Visa Sponsorship
ONS are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role. Applicants are expected to hold a valid right to work in the UK when employment commences. If you are applying on a time-limited visa, this will need to be valid for at least 18 months at point of application.
Application Process
Number of Stages: 2 stage process
Stage 1: Application
Stage 2: Interview
Stage 1 – Application
The assessment process at the application stage will be based on your CV, and personal statement. It is important that your application is tailored to highlight the skills, knowledge, and experience relevant to the role.
A personal statement is required at application stage, the maximum wordcount allowed is 1250, which should not be exceeded. You should provide evidence for each essential skill criterion listed in the person specification. As these criteria are scored, it is advisable to give clear examples for each one, including the impact of your actions,
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